Visiting beautiful Lake Charles, La.

Tuesday

Oct 29, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Kenneth L. Kieser

Red fish fight like they are demon possessed. But catching this muscle fish is like eating chocolate -- you always crave more.
The recent fall morning had been productive and several fish had been caught.
My next long cast fell in the right place and the lure was quickly devoured by another good red fish.
Line stripped off my reel in a blur before the big female dove straight down, easily doubling the medium/heavy-spinning rod.
I glanced around Lake Charles, in southern Louisiana, while trying to retrieve line onto my reel and did not see another boat.
It was quite a surprise considering this quality fishery exists just a little more than 200 miles from heavily populated New Orleans.
The big red finally gave up to our net for a quick release.
I wondered if my arms would hold out to fight this muscle fish’s buddies for a couple more hours.
Sportsmen around this region apparently have developed great arm muscles.
Imagine living close to a sportsman’s paradise with some of America’s best hunting and fishing.
Lake Charles, La. is located close to some of the finest red fish, flounder and speckled trout fishing in the world.
Not only in their brackish-water lake but also the Gulf, only a couple hours away.
Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are easy to find too, if you fish past the Saltwater Barrier only three miles from Lake Charles, depending on the salinity level.
Hunting, too, in this region is exceptional. Alligator hunts are advertised on hunting camp web sites with deer and small game.
Add to this excellent duck hunting where local hunters call gadwalds gray ducks and you can understand why sportsmen from around the world return to this area with their families for annual visits.
A big difference in Lake Charles is the people. Walk into any business in this old city and people who are proud of their rich history will greet you warmly.
Many speak of past residents with respect and pride.
You might hear tales of pirates and buried treasures, or tales of the first French settlers arriving in the 1760s.
The great lumber boom created rapid growth is this unique town that burned down and was rebuilt in 1910.
The petrochemical refining industries brought new life to Lake Charles after World War II, and in 2010 the city’s population reached 71,993.
The food is my favorite reason for visiting this beautiful city besides the hunting and fishing.
Fresh, boiled crab resplendent with potatoes and corn on the cob, oysters and Gulf shrimp are available at most restaurants throughout the area.
You can immediately taste the difference between freshly caught shrimp, crabs or oysters compared to the frozen versions we have in the Midwest.
Of course, there are Louisiana gumbos, etouffee with shrimp or crawfish, creoles, jambalaya and the iconic boudin sausage that is featured in many versions. Forget about dieting when you visit this great city!
The Mardi Gras Museum is another attraction of Lake Charles. The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu has some of the most fantastic costumes ever on display.
A highlight is the animated mannequins that tell the story of Mardi Gras or the talking Mardi Gras chickens that are trying to escape being cooked up in a gumbo pot.
Various rooms tell the story of baking King Cakes as well as costume making.
A Mardi Gras float to climb on includes cheering crowds allowing the pretense of actually being in a parade!
Duck hunting historians might remember that Faulk’s Duck Calls are manufactured in Lake Charles.
Faulk’s Game Call Company turns 62 years old this year.
Dudley Faulk’s father, Clarence “Patin” Faulk, who made calls out of bamboo in the 1930s, could not have imagined that teaching his son to assemble calls and trim reeds would result in a business that would carry his name around the world.
Dudley eventually turned their garage into a duck call manufacturing factory and continued the business until his death on September 7, 1994.
His wife, Rena, still has this family business producing a variety of game calls and going stronger than ever.
Lake Charles, La. will always be one of my favorite destinations. I will never forget the day at a duck camp close to this historic town when an elderly Cajun lady served food my dietary restrictions would not allow me to have.
I told her that I couldn’t eat it and she said, “Don’t worry baby, I’ll take care of you.”
She returned with white rice topped with brown gravy and excellent deer sausage.
I quickly became the envy of that room while savoring every bite, but her kindness was not surprising. That is just how people are in this special region of Louisiana!
For more information about visiting Lake Charles, check their web site at www.visitlakecharles.org, or call (800)-456-7952.
-Kenneth L. Kieser is a local outdoor enthusiast.

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